Continuous flow washing machine assembly



Nov. 29, 1960 E. SULZMANN CONTINUOUS FLOW WASHING MACHINE ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 21, 1956 am W CONTINUOUS FLOW WASHING MACHINE ASSEMBLY Erich Sulzmann, Bahnhofstrasse 1'3, Bremen-St. Maguus, Germany Filed Aug. 21, 1956, Ser. No. 605,319

1 Claim. (Cl. 68-27) machines which are connected in a continuous cycle and are provided with one or more water inlets and drains, and in which the rinse water is passed through all the machines in a continuous counter-current flow, that is, in a'direction opposite .to the progression of the washing cycle. During such passage of the water through the series of washing machines, the required chemicals, such as soap, bleach, and alkalies, as well as heat, for example,'in the form of steam, are added thereto so as to convert the water progressively into a washing solution. Finally, in the last machines of the cycle, the soiled laundry items are soaked or subjected to a pre-washing operation. 7 g

This earlier patent also proposes that each of the washing machines can be selectively disconnected from the remainder of the machines for the purpose of unloading and reloading the same, while the other machines continue their laundering cycle, and can thereafter be reconnected to the cycle for its continued or renewed operation therein.

I have also previously proposed to drain oif a part of the washing bath at or after one or more of the serially connected washing machines, and to control the flow of the water current and the bath level in one or more machines by controlling the overflow thereof. Furthermore, in order that the bath in one machine will have a lower level than that in the previous machine, the use of overflows of different heights has also been previously suggested by me. The purpose of these arrangements was to permit the proper washing of badly soiled and greasy laundry items, such as greasy overalls or clothing coming from butcher shops or the like, and to accelerate the washing operation of such items. Such restricted overflow from the respective machines carrying out the rinsing and preliminary washing operations permitted a plentiful supply of water and a high liquid level in these machines so that the laundry items therein could lie loosely and could thus be rinsed more eifectively, and it also resulted in a relatively low liquid level in the subsequent machines so that the actual Washing operation could be carried out therein more effectively.

It is an object of the present invention not only to maintain a high liquid level in the last rinsing machine or machines, but also to subject the laundry in the first pre-washing machine to a washing operation in rinsing Water which is mixed with chemicals.

Another object of the invention is to utilize the chemicals, which are still contained in the last washing machine of the cycle, to carry out the pre-washing-operation in the first pre-washing machine.

Patent 0.

. lack of alkali also results in the best possible solubility,

A further object of the invention is to carry out th first soaking or pre-washing operation in the newly loaded machine which has just been reconnected into the washing cycle at the lowest possible temperature but with relatively clean water which, however, is still mixed with chemicals but has a very low alkali content.

It is further an object of the invention to provide a washing apparatus which permits a more effective washing action, especially for the removal of blood and albumen spots from the laundry items. This object will be attained both by the lower temperature as well as by the lower alkali content of the soaking or pre-wash water in the newly loaded machine, and also by the direct action of softeners added to the rinsing water in that ma chine. The constitutents of the water causing hardness will preferably be stabilized by the addition of phosphate salts, for instance, sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium hexametaphosphate. Even if only very small amounts of such salts are added, no precipitation will the water will be very soft.

Dues to the addition of phosphates, the water used for.

water, 'is practically neutral and only contains small:

traces of alkali. Such addition of phosphates and the of dirt including blood and albumen which are coagulated through the action of alkalies. If such phosphates; are

also added to the rinsing machines a soap-dissolving ac-' tion will be produced therein.

under the trade name Tylose. This chemical also exerts a soap-saving effect and acts as a dressing agent. Ifv

the rinsing water is to be branched oif, the Tylose will serve in the last rinsing machine as such dressing agent, while the Tylose which then flows into the soaking machine serves as a dirt carrierso that, when flowing into the washing machine, it will save soap.

A similar result may be attained by the use of nonionic washing agents in the rinsing machine, since they have the least effect upon the soap during the washing operation but, when added in the rinsing machine, they facilitate the rinsing of the soap because of their neutral reaction.

A further object and feature of the invention consists in adding fresh rinse water which, if desired, may also contain suitable chemicals, to the first soaking machine before the same is connected to the countercurrent coming from the other machines.

Another feature of the invention consists in filling the fresh rinsing water into the first soaking machine, for example, by means of its overflow pipe and while the drain outlet is closed, at a point behind that machine and in a direction opposite to the countercurrent, and in drawing it off in front of that machine, for example,

through a shorter overflow pipe.

Another object and feature of the invention consists in throttling the flow of the fresh rinsing water, which to the newly loaded pre-washing machine which has been reconnected to the cycle by means of an overflow .pip'e which has a height slightly less than the overflow pipes which determine the liquid level of the bath in the various'machines, while the drain outlet between the newly loaded machine and the previous machine is opened.

Another new feature of the invention consists in the particular manner of branching off or dividing'the rinse-- water current, and the particular addition of calcium Patented Nov. 29, 19 60 occur and v compound-dissolving salts to the rinse water which is used in the soaking machine for pre-rinsing, or the addition of such salts at a point between the last rinsing machines.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention consist in the particular construction of the washing machine assembly and in the apparatus for carrying out the new method, as will appear from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in c Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a laundry machine assembly according to the present invention which, for example, comprises a series of eight interconnected washing machines;

Fig. 2 shows a modification of the laundry machine assembly as shown in Fig. 1, with a modified passage of the rinse water current; while Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically an enlarged detail view of the intermediate container between two washing machines with several passages from one machine to the other which are provided with control means.

Referring to the drawings, a plurality of individual washing machines of standard design and each comprising a container and a drum rotatable therein and provided with perforations, are arranged in series. Thus, for example, as shown in the drawings, the entire assembly may comprise eight washing machines I to VIII which are connected with each other by conduits which are disposed below the normal liquid or bath level of each machine, and intermediate containers 11 between the adjacent machines which are provided with drain openings e which may be closed by removable overflow pipes b, and valve openings al into conduits 10 which are provided at a higher level 12 in container 11 and may be closed by valves d as subsequently described for regulating the passage of water through conduits 10 and containers 11. The arrangement of the individual washing machines is similar to the arrangement as shown in my mentioned prior Patent 2,700,287, in which steam and various chemicals, for example, soap, alkalies, and bleach, may be inserted directly into the machines through suitable conduits which are omitted in the present drawings as they would unnecessarily complicate the same.

Assuming that machine I forms the last rinsing machine, a supply of rinse water will be added to this machine, by the inlet pipe 13. The flow of this rinse water to the other washing machines is controlled by means of a valve d in container 11 with a valve opening d which may be adjustable, and which is provided between machines II and III, as shown in Fig. 1, or between machines I and II, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, only a portion of the rinse water supplied to machine I or to machines I and II can pass into machine III, and, if the liquid level in these machines exceeds the height of the overflow pipes b between machines I and II (Fig. 1) such excess will drain off through these overflows.

At the other side of machine I, that is, intermediate machine I and the last soaking machine VIII, a control valve 1 is further provided in the respective container 11, which may be either a plug or an overflow valve. According to the present invention, a fresh supply of rinse water as indicated by the arrow 14 is added into the con-.

tainer 11 between machines I and VII. This rinse water has previously been mixed with chemicals and particularly calcium compound dissolving salts and thus passes into machine VIII in a direction opposite to the countercurrent passing through all the machines.

The container 11 at the other side or ahead of soaking machine VIII contains an overflow pipe e which, if desired, may also be adjustable and permits the rinse water, as well as the wash water coming from the other machines, to flow off. This overflow pipe ehas a lower height than the overflow pipes b between the other machines which determine the liquid level therein, and its height approximately corresponds to the level 12 of plug opening d which in this case is left entirely open.

In the modified embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 2, the rinse water which is supplied by the inlet pipe 13 to machine I, that is, the last rinsing machine, is branched off in both directions. For this purpose, the valve pipe or valve plug d is inserted in the plug opening d in the container 11 between machines I and II, so that a portion of the rinse water will flow 01f to the other machines through the valve opening d which may be adjustable. Therefore, only a certain amount of the large supply of rinse water passed into machine I can remain therein, and the excess above the level of the overflow pipe b between machines I and II flows down the drain through such pipe.

On the other hand, the container 11 at the other side, that is, between the last rinsing machine I and the first prewashing or soaking machine VIII is provided with an overflow-pipe a which is of lower height than the overflow pipes b between the other machines which determine the liquid level therein, and the upper edge of which is preferably about 2 to 3 cm. lower than the upper edge of overflow pipes b.

The new washing method according to the invention therefore consists in that the flow of rinse water of the last rinsing machine I is divided by the throttling valve d between machines I and II, and that it is partly used together with the chemicals which have been rinsed out of the laundry items in the last rinsing machine I forprewashing the laundry in machine VIII after the same has been freshly loaded and reconnected to the cycle. The flow of fresh rinse water which is supplied to the last rinsing machine I is therefore restricted during its passage to the second-last rinsing machine II by means of the valve d, and, after the pre-washing machine, for example, machine VIII, has been reloaded with dirty laundry and reconnected to the cycle, a portion of the fresh rinse water from machine I is permitted to flow into machine VIII through the overflow pipe a which is lower than the liquid level which is determined by the overflow pipes 12.

The outlet e to the drain channel e of the entire installation, which lies between the newly loaded machine VIII and the previous machine VII, in which the laundry has already been soaked for one washing cycle period, is provided with a low overflow pipe e, the upper edge of which substantially corresponds to the level 12 of plug opening d which in this case is left entirely open.

The valve opening d and the amount of overflow from machine I to machine II is so adjusted that the rinse water current 13 will be approximately divided into two equal currents, one of which flows to machines II to VII and is mixed therein with chemicals and heated, while the other, which is warmed up by the heat of the laundry of the last rinsing machine, is used for pre-washing the laundry in the newly loaded machine, for example, machine VIII.

In its passage from machines II to III, a softener or calcium-dissolving salt, for example, polyphosphate, may be added to the water, while the bleach may be added, for example, between machines III and IV, and the soap and alkalies between machines 1V and V. This washing solution will thus eventually exert its action also within the newly loaded pre-washing machines.

The washing process preferably proceeds in such a manner that, due to the division of the rinse water, the temperature in the first pre-washing machine is held for one washing cycle period, that is, for example, for five minutes, at a lower point, for example, 20 to 25 C. lower than this is otherwise the case if the entire wash water current is passed to the first soaking machine VIII. Consequently, blood and albumen spots will be washed out much better in the first soaking machine, and this is also due to the low alkali content of the partial current of rinse water from the last rinsing machine I which is used for pre-washing.

It is further advisable when the supply of rinse water is shifted over to the second-last rinsing machine II to insert a suitable plug into the opening 11 between machines I and II to close it oflE completely at a time approximately two minutes before machine I is to be unloaded, and to shift the valve d over by one machine, that is, into the opening d between machines II and III. A portion of the rinse water current of rinsing machine I is then branched off to the last pre-washing machine by removing the short overflow pipe a between the soaking machine VIII and the last rinsing machine I for a short time until machine I has attained the desired liquid or bath level, whereupon the required amounts of acid or starch are added to rinsing machine I. Furthermore, at a change of cadence, that is, when the rinsing process in machine I has been completed and the same has been newly loaded with dirty laundry, not only the valve plug d, but also the overflow pipe a and the drain pipe e are to be changed over by one machine.

In carrying out the washing operation it is also of importance that the laundry in machine VIII which has been pre-rinsed or soaked by the reverse current or by the supply of fresh water which is mixed with calciumdissolving salts is not allowed to enter into the wash water current until the dirty pre-rinse water has been completely drained out of this machine, which may be done simply by opening the plug between machines I and II.

By enlarging the valve opening d in valve pipe d, the wash water current may be accelerated to such an extent that the laundry will be properly rinsed only with soft water and it will no longer be necessary to acidify the water after the washing.

The soap and metasilicate are preferably added exactly in the middle of the washing process, so that 50% of the machines will be at the washing side of the assembly and the other 50% at the rinsing side. The desired amount of sodium tripolyphosphate is preferably added exactly in the middle of the rinsing side, so that 75% of the machines will then be at the washing side and the remaining 25% at the rinsing side.

Fig. 3 finally illustrates that the control means for operating the individual washing machines of the entire assembly may also be provided side-by-side between the adjacent machines. Thus, for example, not only the overflow pipe b may be provided in each container 11, but also a valve opening 1, at the level 12 of the container which may be adjusted by the valve 1, and next to it the valve plug with the shorter overflow pipe a in the opening a for controlling the reverse current, and the overflow valve d with the valve opening d in the opening d Depending on whether these openings have been opened or closed, either a free passage, a lower overflow, or a throttling of the wash water current between two adjacent machines will be attained.

The present invention is especially intended to maintain the bath temperature during the pre-washing operation for one washing cycle period, that is, for example, for five minutes, at a relatively low point so as to exert a better washing action on blood and albumen spots during such pre-washing operation. However, the hot-water current may also be accelerated to any desired extent since it can never heat the soaking machine VIII which contains the dirtiest laundry because of the cooling action of the partial fresh-water current. Actual practice has shown that the laundry as washed by the new washing method has a degree of whiteness which surpasses all previous methods.

The rinse water mixed with chemicals may according to the invention also be inserted by means of pumps or the like into the first soaking machine preceding the last rinsing machine or machines.

The control means provided in the intermediate containers 11 may be of any suitable type, such as plugs, valves, multiway valves, automatically adjustable throttle valves, vertically adjustable overflow pipes, or the like.

Although the washing assembly as above described and illustrated in the drawings comprises a series of eight washing machines, it may also consists of a larger or smaller number of machines, for example, 4, 6, 12, 14 or more machines.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain now preferred examples and embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

A washing machine assembly comprising, in combination, a plurality of washing machines; inlet means communicating with one of said washing machines for feeding liquid into said one washing machine; endless conduit means communicating with said washing machines for connecting the same in series and for directing the liquid fed into said one washing machine in one direction successively through all the other washing machines into the serially last machine; a plurality of overflow means respectively connected to said washing machines for maintaining therein -a preselected liquid level and for discharging therefrom liquid beyond said predetermined level; and means in said conduit means for causing the liquid fed in said one machine to flow at least in part in a direction opposite to said one direction at least into the washing machine located in said one direction upstream of said one washing machine, said means comprising throttling means in said conduit means for limiting the flow of liquid from said one washing machine to the washing machine on one side adjacent thereto and down stream in said one direction, the overflow means cornmunicating with the washing machine adjacent to and on the other side of said one machine maintaining the liquid level in said other washing machine below the liquid level in said one washing machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,698,778 Clark Ian. 15, 1929 2,414,326 Newsome Ian. 14, 1947 2,700,287 Sulzmann Jan. 25, 1955 2,733,120 Robson Jan. 31 1956 2,756,581 Von Boehmer July 31, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 62,900 France Feb. 16, 1955 843,390 Germany Sept. 18, 1952 914,601 Germany July 5, 1954 

